Suction cleaner



March 7, 1933. W. H. KITTO 1,900,888

sUCTIoN CLEANER Filed May 28, 1930 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STA-TES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. KITTO, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGrNOR TO THE HOOVER COMPANY, OFpNORTH CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SUCTION CLEANER Application led May 28,

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a new and novel suction cleaner construction in which, through the use of agitation and directed air flow, increased cleaning eiliciency is made possible. The invention is of simple construction and performs, in the cleaning operation, the desirable functions usually found only in more complicated machines.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved suction cleaner. A further object is the provision of a suction cleaner which is simple in its construction and which combines the desirable qualities of durability, economy, and

efficiency. A further object is the provision of a new and improved agitator for suction cleaners. vision of a suction cleaner agitator which controls the direction of air iiow in the suction cleaner nozzle by its position therein which is determined by the direction of movement of the suction cleaner. Other and more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and taking into consideration the drawing annexed. Y Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 is a side view of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the suction nozzle and agitator therein in cross section; Y

Fig. 2 is a partial cruza section upon the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1 in particular, av

suction cleaner indicated by the reference character 1 is shown which comprises a suction nozzle 2; a fan chamber 3 which houses a fan not shown a motor casing 4 which encloses the fan-propelling motor; front-'supporting wheels 5, of which one is shown, and rear supporting wheels 6; and a handle bail` 7 adapted to be connected to a handle in order that the cleaner may be propelled over H the surface covering when in use. The afore- 4 going parts are found in the usual suction A further object is the pro- 1930. Serial No. 456,386.

the air How between themselves and the surface covering undergoing cleaning in the nozzle. The ends of nozzle 2 are .closed by removable end plates 12, of which one is shown in' Fig. 2, which are removably secured in place by securing means 13.

Positioned within nozzle 2 and extending the length thereofis the agitatingtunnel member, indicated by the reference character 14. Tunnel. `14 comprises a hollow body member with converging side walls 15 and 16 of relatively narrow width along their surfacecontacting edges or lips 15A and 16A, said lips being ofv such magnitude that they are' adapted topenetratebetween adjacent rows of pile of a surface covering and function as surface-agitating means in the operation of the cleaner. Each end wall 17 of tunnel 14 is provided with a cylindrical perpendicular-A ly extruded wall 18 which is rotatably mounted within a bushing 19 which is firmly held in the opening 20 of the adjacent plate 12. The same pressure exists at all times within tunnel 14 as exists outside thenozzle 2, as the interior of tunnel 14 is directly connected to the exterior atmosphere through the passageways formed by walls 18. Positioned upon the upper surface and extending the length of member 14 are seallng stops 21 and 22 which are so positioned that the rotation of the tunnel in thebushings 19 is which a longitudinally bisecting plane beltween lips 15A and 16A would be vertical, in

which one of the walls 15 and 16 of the tunnel is approximately parallel to .the nearest adjacent wall 8 or 9 respectively of the nozzle. With the tunnel member at its maximum angular displacement on either side of its center position one of the sealing stops contacts the adjacent wall of the nozzle across its length and effectively prevents the passage of air between the tunnel and the nozzle wall at that side of the tunnel in response to the demand created by the suction fan within the chamber 3.

In the operation of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, the movement of the cleaner over` the surface covering results in the tilting of the agitating tunnel 14 in either a rearwardly or forwardly direction as the walls 15 and 16 extend a sufficient distance below the plane of the nozzle lips 10 and 11 to contact the surface covering even though said covering remains fiat upon the floor and unaffected by the vacuum within the nozzle 2. As viewed in Fig. 1 the cleaner is moving in a forward direction, that is to the left, and the tunnel 14 has been tilted rearwardly. The operation of the motor-driven fan within the fan chamber 3 draws the air from the suction nozzle 2 and creates a pressure therein which is lower than the atmospheric pressure without. Influenced by the difference in pressure within the nozzle and between lips 15A and 11 the floor covering therebe-` low is lifted into contact therewith. With the surface covering in the raised position the broad sealing lip 11 substantially prevents the flow of air between itself and the covering because of its large area and the air en.- tering the nozzle in response to the demand created by the difference in pressure enters through the tunnel 14 and passes underthe lip 16A of the wall 16, having first entered the tunnel through the openings formed b v the cylindrical walls 1S at the ends thereof. Through the act-ion of seal 21 theV space within the nozzle 2 between the wall 15 and the wall 8 is sealed from the remainder lof the nozzle andthe effect of the diminished pressurewithinsaid nozzle is not felt in that space. As a result the surface covering below the lip 10 yof wall 8J and the wall 15 is unaffected by the reduced pressure within the nozzle and remains in) Contact with the floor. With the advance of the cleaner in the forward direction, as'afo'redescribed, the wall 15 extends the greatest distance into the plane of the nozzle mouth and, because of the relatively narrow width of its lower edge or lip 15A, penetrates between the individual rows of pile and between the individual tufts of a single row thereby functioning to Hex and A agitate said pile and dislodge the dirt therefroln and therebetween. The loweredge or lip 16A lof the wall 16 of the tunnel 14, while positioned at a greater height than the corresponding part of wall 15 with the tunnel tilted rearwardly extends into contact with the surface covering which is'bowed up between the wall 15 and the lip 11 of the rear wall 9 of the nozzle. The air entering the suction nozzle 2 under the lip of the wall 16 from the tunnel 14 in response to the pressure difference must Contact and pass through the pile of the lifted surface covering in order to gain entrance into said nozzle. The edges or lips of both walls 15 and 16 perform the function of vibrating and agitating the pile of the surface covering as they are slid thereover and the cleaning air entering the nozzle from the tunnel 14 between the lips 51A and 16A is directed to the immediate point of surface agitation and maximum cleaning efficiency is encompassed. With the cleaner propelled in the opposite direction the tunnel 14 assumes the position indicated by the dotted lines showing in Fig. 1. The surface covering then becomes bowed up between the lip 16A and the lip 10 while the sealing stop 22 performs the sealing function aforedescribed relative to the stop 21 with the machine moving in the forward direction- The entire construction is simple and the well known additional cleaning efficiency resulting from the inclusion in a cleaner of agitating means is encompassed by the present invention without resort being had to the connection between the agitating means and the driving motor, 'with the consequent saving in manufacturingcosts through greater simplicity. The construction makes use of the principle ofpositive pile agitation and incorporates therewith the desirable quality of having the cleaning air directed to the point of agitation.

Having clearly set forth and described my invention I claim 1. In a suction cleaner, a suction nozzle, means to create a reduced pressure in said nozzle, a member rotatably mounted within` said suction nozzle interiorly connected to the atmosphere and adapted to be tilted by the movement of the cleaner over the surface covering undergoing cleaning, and means to limit the angle of rotation of the member and to prevent the passage of air between the member and the adjacent wall of the nozzle comprising a sealing stop carried by said member along its entire length and adapted to contact the adjacent wall of said suction nozzle.

2.` In a suction cleaner of the type adapted to lift the surface covering undergoing cleaning from the supporting surface, suction-creating means, a nozzle connected to said suction-creating means, broad sealing lips carried by said nozzle defining the sides of the mouth thereof and adapted to contact a surface covering lifted by the suction within said nozzle created by said suction- 1,9oo,sss

creating means, a tiltablymounted hollow member-within said nozzle intcriorly connected to the atmosphere, spaced pile penetrating lips defining an opening in said member and adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning, and means to limit the tilting of said member so that atall times at least one of said lips is in a vsurface-contacting position.

si ed at North Canton, in the county of Star and State of Ohio, this 14th day of Ma A.D.1930.

y WILLIAM H.K1T'1o. i 

